When Can You Play an Ace in Blackjack?

In blackjack, an ace can be played as either a 1 or an 11, depending on what’s best for your hand. If you’re dealt an ace and a 2, for example, you can play it as a 3 (1+2), or you can play the ace as an 11 and the 2 as a 1, for a total of 13.

PRO TIP:When playing blackjack, you can usually play an Ace as either a 1 or 11, depending on what works better for your hand. However, if the dealer has a blackjack (an Ace and a 10-value card) then it’s best to play the Ace as 1 rather than 11.

If you have a hand with a low chance of winning, playing an ace as an 11 can help you get closer to 21 and improve your chances of winning. If you have a hand with a high chance of winning, playing an ace as a 1 can help you avoid going over 21 and busting.

 Exclusive BlackJack Casino Offers: 

Knowing when to play an ace as a 1 or an 11 is one of the most important skills in blackjack. It’s not always easy to know what to do, but with practice and experience, you’ll start to get a feel for when it’s the right time to take a risk and go for the win, or when it’s better to play it safe and keep your hand low.